Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine discovers new Treponema bacteria in noma patients
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · Apr 26
Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine discovers new Treponema bacteria in noma patients
7 articles · Updated · The Guardian · Apr 26
Researchers identified the previously unknown Treponema A species in samples from 19 Nigerian children with noma, and confirmed its presence in older patient samples.
The discovery could lead to improved prevention, detection, and targeted treatment for noma, a fatal disease affecting tens of thousands of malnourished children annually, mainly in the Sahel region.
Current treatments rely on broad-spectrum antibiotics, risking antimicrobial resistance; future research aims to clarify Treponema A's role and develop diagnostic tests and preventive interventions for this neglected tropical disease.
If this new bacteria is related to syphilis, can we adapt existing tests to fight noma now?
With the new PathNoma study underway, how long until a targeted treatment is a reality?
Could a simple mouth swab soon prevent this disfiguring disease before it even starts?
Is focusing on a 'killer bacteria' a distraction from the true cause of noma: poverty?
Could probiotics be a simple, powerful weapon against this devastating facial infection?